Wiaan Mulder couldn’t have scripted a better start to his Test captaincy. In his first match as skipper, the South African all-rounder smashed an unbeaten 264, steering his side to a commanding 465/4 at Stumps on Day 1 of the second Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo. Mulder’s innings, filled with flair, patience, and brute force, not only rescued his side from a shaky start but put them in complete control.
Taking charge after the early fall of openers Tony de Zorzi and Lesego Senokwane, Mulder built a mammoth partnership with David Bedingham (82) and later with Lhuan-dre Pretorius (78), grinding down a hapless Zimbabwe bowling attack.
Rocky Start for South Africa
Despite the massive total at day’s end, South Africa didn’t begin well. After surviving an early edge through the slips, Tony de Zorzi fell cheaply, cutting straight to backward point off Tanaka Chivanga. Debutant Kundai Matigimu had a promising start, bowling a maiden first over, and eventually dismissed Senokwane, who could only muster three runs off 36 balls before being trapped LBW.
At 39/2, Zimbabwe sniffed an opening—but that didn’t last long.
Bedingham-Mulder Partnership Shifts Momentum
Bedingham wasted no time asserting himself, smashing three consecutive boundaries off Matigimu. Mulder soon joined the party with a four and a six, and the duo shifted the momentum decisively in South Africa’s favor. Boundaries flowed steadily as both batters raised their fifties around the Lunch interval.
After the break, Mulder upped the ante. Fluent off the back foot and ruthless against anything full, he played glorious drives and muscular pulls to dominate the bowling. His century came midway through the second session—an emotional milestone on captaincy debut.
Bedingham, meanwhile, kept the scoreboard ticking before being trapped LBW on 82. It was the only brief relief for Zimbabwe in an otherwise grim day in the field.
Pretorius Joins the Run-Fest
Pretorius walked in with positive intent, striking 15 off one Wellington Masakadza over. With Mulder in full flow, the pair piled on the misery for Zimbabwe. Mulder reached 150 in style with consecutive boundaries and later brought up his double century off just 214 balls, marking one of the fastest in South Africa’s Test history.
Pretorius, playing his shots freely, crossed 50 with a lovely straight drive and shared a century stand with his captain. Eventually, he fell for 78, offering Matigimu his maiden Test wicket. However, Zimbabwe failed to seize momentum—Chivanga overstepped when he had Mulder caught near the close, a costly no-ball that denied them a crucial breakthrough.
Zimbabwe Bowlers Struggle for Control
Zimbabwe’s bowlers lacked discipline and control throughout the day. Chivanga (2/85) was the most successful but also among the most expensive. Matigimu showed promise in patches, but no bowler managed to contain the relentless Mulder.
Overs often leaked double-digit runs, and fielding lapses—including the no-ball that spared Mulder—added to Zimbabwe’s frustrations. With the pitch still playing well and South Africa only four wickets down, Zimbabwe face a long road ahead.
Brief Scores:
South Africa 465/4 (Wiaan Mulder 264*, David Bedingham 82, Lhuan-dre Pretorius 78; Tanaka Chivanga 2-85) vs Zimbabwe
South Africa will resume Day 2 with their captain eyeing a potential triple century—and Zimbabwe desperate for answers.
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